NFTs (non-fungible tokens) can change the way artists interact with their patrons Although, it can be somewhat difficult to understand the utility of this new technology — with all the terms and jargons, I’m going to share how you can get involved based on what I’ve learned from the past 16 months of participating in the space. When I talk to a few of my friends and family about my new-found interest — NFTs, I get a good sense of apprehension. I understand that the older we get, the more we w...

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) can change the way artists interact with their patrons Although, it can be somewhat difficult to understand the utility of this new technology — with all the terms and jargons, I’m going to share how you can get involved based on what I’ve learned from the past 16 months of participating in the space. When I talk to a few of my friends and family about my new-found interest — NFTs, I get a good sense of apprehension. I understand that the older we get, the more we w...

When I started writing Toffy’s Divide, all I wanted was a story about a guy writing his own story, based in the year 2049. (Why 2049? Find out here — it rhymed with the first words of Chuck D on this song) That’s it. I did not have a particular story structure or genre. It was only 5 years after starting that story that my editors told me that my genre was leaning towards Dystopian.When I reflect on it Toffy’s Divide is a story of rebellion, starting off as a spark — from a music project that...

When I started writing Toffy’s Divide, all I wanted was a story about a guy writing his own story, based in the year 2049. (Why 2049? Find out here — it rhymed with the first words of Chuck D on this song) That’s it. I did not have a particular story structure or genre. It was only 5 years after starting that story that my editors told me that my genre was leaning towards Dystopian.When I reflect on it Toffy’s Divide is a story of rebellion, starting off as a spark — from a music project that...

Empathy is an integral part of the innovation process and a foundation for creative development. Empathy — a prerequisite for solving “wicked problems” — is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The design thinking approach to innovation, as popularised by Stanford d.schooland the global design firm IDEO, has emphasized the concept of empathy to make it inseparable from the innovation process. Leading innovative companies such as Apple, Amazon, and Google use design thin...

Empathy is an integral part of the innovation process and a foundation for creative development. Empathy — a prerequisite for solving “wicked problems” — is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The design thinking approach to innovation, as popularised by Stanford d.schooland the global design firm IDEO, has emphasized the concept of empathy to make it inseparable from the innovation process. Leading innovative companies such as Apple, Amazon, and Google use design thin...

Art can be used for different things. Beyond the aesthetics, it can be used as a tool to speak on what is going on in today’s world. It can be a mirror that is held up to reflect the happenings of our times. Whether its music, a painting, writing (fiction or non-fiction), creative inspirations can be used to document our past, discuss the present, and prepare us for tomorrow.Even through works of fiction, the storyteller can use stories to bring light to a situation, leading people out of the...

Art can be used for different things. Beyond the aesthetics, it can be used as a tool to speak on what is going on in today’s world. It can be a mirror that is held up to reflect the happenings of our times. Whether its music, a painting, writing (fiction or non-fiction), creative inspirations can be used to document our past, discuss the present, and prepare us for tomorrow.Even through works of fiction, the storyteller can use stories to bring light to a situation, leading people out of the...

As I revised my first novel — Toffy’s Divide, I asked the question “is my storytelling good storytelling?” What is good storytelling anyways? Dieter Rams (born 1932), the acclaimed German industrial designer and retired academic, asked a similar question when making innovative products for Braun. His unobtrusive approach and belief in “Less, but better” design generated a timeless quality in his products and have influenced the design of many productsAfter all, similar to design, storytelling...

As I revised my first novel — Toffy’s Divide, I asked the question “is my storytelling good storytelling?” What is good storytelling anyways? Dieter Rams (born 1932), the acclaimed German industrial designer and retired academic, asked a similar question when making innovative products for Braun. His unobtrusive approach and belief in “Less, but better” design generated a timeless quality in his products and have influenced the design of many productsAfter all, similar to design, storytelling...

Why did I write TOFFY’S DIVIDE? The simple answer is: “I needed a story for my mixtape. That’s why.” But there’s more to it than that simple answer. In 2016, I wanted to make a concept album. I thought it would be cool to start with a specific intention or a storyline to follow. So I thought if I had a story first, I could have a more cohesive storyline in my concept album. Up until that point, I had never ventured into story or script writing. I had just finished my MBA. I had a background i...

Why did I write TOFFY’S DIVIDE? The simple answer is: “I needed a story for my mixtape. That’s why.” But there’s more to it than that simple answer. In 2016, I wanted to make a concept album. I thought it would be cool to start with a specific intention or a storyline to follow. So I thought if I had a story first, I could have a more cohesive storyline in my concept album. Up until that point, I had never ventured into story or script writing. I had just finished my MBA. I had a background i...

Music is an emotive language that moves us through time and space, sparking vivid memories of the past, pushing us to action in the present, and igniting thoughts for the future. What is music? Music is something that we are all very familiar with. Most of us have grown up loving a certain genre of music, artist, or song. We have devices that keep us connected to our favorite tracks while at work, exercising, relaxing, and celebrating. It can be used for meditation, contemplation, and solace....

Music is an emotive language that moves us through time and space, sparking vivid memories of the past, pushing us to action in the present, and igniting thoughts for the future. What is music? Music is something that we are all very familiar with. Most of us have grown up loving a certain genre of music, artist, or song. We have devices that keep us connected to our favorite tracks while at work, exercising, relaxing, and celebrating. It can be used for meditation, contemplation, and solace....

After all, similar to design, storytelling is the ritual of a hopeful society. A good friend of mine introduced my to Dieter Rams’ “10 Principles of Good Design”. As soon as I read it, I started thinking about how this applied to storytelling. So I switched out “design” and replaced it with “storytelling”. You can read more about it here. Here are my thoughts on whether my storytelling in Toffy’s Divide, my first novel (Published: Oct 21, 2021), is good storytelling. 1. Good storytelling is i...

After all, similar to design, storytelling is the ritual of a hopeful society. A good friend of mine introduced my to Dieter Rams’ “10 Principles of Good Design”. As soon as I read it, I started thinking about how this applied to storytelling. So I switched out “design” and replaced it with “storytelling”. You can read more about it here. Here are my thoughts on whether my storytelling in Toffy’s Divide, my first novel (Published: Oct 21, 2021), is good storytelling. 1. Good storytelling is i...

Music plays a big role in my life and it did in crafting my first novel. I’ve been actively producing music for more than seven years now and I’ve found ways to integrate music-making into different aspects of my life. It acts as a form of therapy and a catalyst to build cohesive communities. Music helps practitioners develop a growth mindset and is a very effective storytelling tool, especially when it comes to emotional communication.The communication of feelings is a main reason why we tur...

Music plays a big role in my life and it did in crafting my first novel. I’ve been actively producing music for more than seven years now and I’ve found ways to integrate music-making into different aspects of my life. It acts as a form of therapy and a catalyst to build cohesive communities. Music helps practitioners develop a growth mindset and is a very effective storytelling tool, especially when it comes to emotional communication.The communication of feelings is a main reason why we tur...

A storytelling experiment: Built off the world on dystopian novel “Toffy’s Divide”, a collection of 405 unique digital collectibles with exclusive storytelling utility. ToffysDomesNFT is all about experimenting with a new art form and mode of expression. It’s my attempt to answer the question: “What does storytelling and publishing supported by the blockchain look like?” When I came across NFTs (non-fungible tokens), it immediately piqued my interest. I’m not sure what really influenced me. W...

A storytelling experiment: Built off the world on dystopian novel “Toffy’s Divide”, a collection of 405 unique digital collectibles with exclusive storytelling utility. ToffysDomesNFT is all about experimenting with a new art form and mode of expression. It’s my attempt to answer the question: “What does storytelling and publishing supported by the blockchain look like?” When I came across NFTs (non-fungible tokens), it immediately piqued my interest. I’m not sure what really influenced me. W...